These Shoe Storage Ideas Will Actually Get and Keep You Organized

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There are lots of storage ideas in the world, but they don’t all make your life easier. We’re focused on finding solutions that will streamline your morning and evening routines fast. From stackable cubbies and classic tiered racks to angled shelves and clever baskets, there are a lot of options to consider for difference spaces, from your closet to the mudroom or next to the front door. We even included a wall-mounted mirror that opens to reveal shoe shelves. There’s no reason to edit down your shoe collection in the name of organization.

For expert insight, we reached out to Suze Dowling, cofounder and chief business officer of the homegoods company Pattern Brands. For starters, she recommends placing them in heel-to-toe formation (aka the shoes in each pair face opposite directions) to maximize space to fit as many pairs as possible. Also, "Make sure that your shoes are clean before storing them,” Dowling advises. “Wipe with a soft cloth, and insert a shoe deodorizer remover baggie to keep things fresh.”

Ready to get your closet organized? Start with the biggest job: your shoes. Trust us, once you put one of our 35 best shoe storage ideas to work, you’ll never go back.

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Make Every Inch Count

You don’t need a sprawling walk-in closet to have ample shoe storage. Sometimes it just takes some creative thinking. In this closet, designer Tanner Sammons extended the shoe shelves into the top of the angled wall to make use of every inch he could. Even just one more pair can make all the difference.

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Co-Opt a Linen Closet

If there’s no room left in your bedroom closet but plenty of space in the linen closet down the hall, simply take over some of that square footage. This ensuite linen closet by Joshua Greene doubles as a shoe cubby, keeping pairs neat, tidy, and off the closet floor.

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Get Creative With Placement

There’s no rule saying your shoes have to go in a closet. If you live in a small space, let your bedside furniture work double duty by utilizing it as a small armoire for your favorite pieces, as designer Juan Carretero did in his own Manhattan apartment.

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Tuck Shoes Under a Bench

In an entryway, a bench works great as a drop zone and perch to sit and put on shoes. Plus, you can keep your most frequently worn pairs tucked under the bench. Designer Emily Janak opted for a furniture piece with well-placed arches to do just that in her home.

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Leave Room to Grow

Storage is only beneficial as long as it remains functional. If space allows, build out your shoe storage with a little bit of breathing room. In House Beautiful’s 2022 Whole Home, this closet by designers Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos gives the homeowners more storage with room to add to their collection.

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Keep Things Off the Floor

The quickest way for a room to look cleaner and more organized is to clear the floors. This closet, from House Beautiful’s 2020 Whole Home designed by Elizabeth Georgantas does just that with its clever raised storage and ceiling-height shelving—perfect for your shoeboxes and favorite pairs.

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Choose a Bright Hue

Creating storage and organization isn’t always a fun endeavors, so make it more so with a bright pop color in your closet. This bubblegum pink reflects light and showcases this shoe collection.

Related: The Best Pink Paint Colors

Hide Off-Season Shoes

Designer Jenna Gross of Colordrunk Designs knows a thing or two about stylish storage. Just look at her dressing room in House Beautiful’s 2023 Whole Home. And while we swap out or clothing for the seasons, we should be doing the same with our shoes. Keep out-of-season footwear out of sight on a shelf at the top of your closet, or in a sneaky storage compartment like a window seat.

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Angle the Shelves

What’s the point of shoe storage if you can’t see what you have? Take pride in your collection and show it off. By using angled shelves instead of flat ones, as designer Elizabeth Georgantas did in this primary closet, you can better see your footwear leading to an easier getting-ready process in the mornings.

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Opt for Drawers

Take a note from Caren Rideau and house everyone’s shoes in mudroom drawers rather than in their individual closets. This way, you can still have a shoe-free household without the pile of footwear at the door.

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Keep Their Shoes at Kid Level

Teaching your little ones independence is crucial. So help them get dressed on their own by keeping their favorite shoes where they can reach them easily. A deep shelf allows double the storage space for their bite-sized sneakers.

Related Story: Kids' Room Design Ideas

Hide Them Behind Sliding Doors

There's nothing more annoying than a closet door that keeps popping open because its contents are packed to the brim. Shoes can easily get caught in the hustle of getting ready. To streamline your mornings and save space, opt for sliding doors that not only look cleaner but also close better and more smoothly.

Utilize a Basket

For seasonal or occasional shoes, toss them into a storage basket where they’re contained but still easily accessible. This basket has handles so it’s easy to grab and go.

Related Story: The Best Storage Baskets

Keep Essentials Close By

We all go through phases when it comes to our clothes, so why let things you aren’t wearing right now to take up valuable storage space? Streamline your closet with an essentials rack to keep the things you’re loving most right now close by, including your current favorite shoes. It’ll make getting dressed so much simpler.

Related Story: Small Closet Organization Ideas

Hide Them in the Entryway

If the idea of a shoe cabinet is new to you, allow this Bay Isle Home find to serve as a stylish introduction. It fits 18 pairs—everything but boots—so feel free to clear up the floor space in your closet and hide all of your footwear in here. The pull-down parts are made of natural breathable rattan, so there's no need to worry about being smacked in the face by a rancid aroma every time you go for a pair of shoes.

Make It Moveable

Chic shoe storage ideas are far and few between, so when we see a 10 out of 10 (in terms of fashion and function), we will snatch it right up. This durable metal rack by Pattern Brands also comes in six additional colors.

7-Tier Shoe Rack

This may seem like a lot, but you can configure this tiered shoe rack however you see fit. Before buying it, consider the shape of the area where you'll be putting it. No matter how you assemble it, though, it can fit 28 pairs of shoes.

Tiered Shoe Rack

And now for a more traditional shoe rack: This Yamazaki find comes in two finishes and doubles as an entryway console table—which is especially great if you live in a small space and don't have tons of room to spare. Simply assemble this five-tiered (six if you count the floor space) shoe rack beside the front door and use the shelves for shoes and the wooden surface for keys and anything else you may need as you dash out the door.

9-Pair Shoe Storage Box

If this structure looks a bit too big for a typical closet, rest assured that one unit is actually only a column, not all four. So if you have lots of shoes that need storing, you can snag as many columns, which fit nine pairs, as you like. And if you're worried the column may be a little tall, it's actually comprised of stackable cubbies, so you can lay it flat on the floor, create a square unit, or anything in between.

Space-Saving Shoe Rack

Here's another more common shoe-storage solution that works in plenty of spaces. Full disclosure: We love the idea of using the top shelf for leaning prints and books and the bottom shelves for shoes.

Use a Cute Cabinet

Now this Homary shoe cabinet is deceiving because, until you open it, it looks like a typical case piece. Of course, the mirrored doors don't hurt. On the inside, there are removable shelves that you can arrange to accommodate your collection. Our suggestion? Leave some extra space on the bottom for boots.

Wall-Mounted Shoe Rack

Speaking of deceptive storage pieces with reflective fronts, we couldn't resist including this full-length wall-mounted mirror that, to our surprise, opens to reveal a massive shoe organizer.

Narrow Shoe Rack

For extra tight squeezes, go for a set of stackable cubbies with adjustable heights to accommodate everything from sneakers to heels. This set comes with five cubbies, so if you have a larger collection, you may want to snag two or three.

4-Tier Shoe Rack

Another small-space-friendly rack is this four-tiered shoe stand that can fit eight pairs. Our suggestion? Stick it on the floor of your closer and hang your clothes above it. Did we mention it's a best-seller? Probably because it's so affordable and can handle a lot of weight.

Drop-Front Shoe Box

Leave it to The Container Store to deliver the most stylish shoe cubbies on the market. Available in five colors, these cubbies come with a transparent drop-front so you can see exactly what shoes you're going for without having to rearrange your system.

Frame Rolling Shoe Rack

Sometimes out of sight, out of mind is the best policy when it comes to our shoes, so if this phrase resonates with you, opt for this rolling shoe rack with an opaque front that hides the shoes your storing. It also comes in white if the jet black is a little too dramatic for your space.

Six-Pair Shoe Rack

This is what happens with functionality meets fashion. We suggest placing this little storage solution by the front door so that you can grab your shoes, take a seat while you put them on, and then head outside. It comes in four finishes, but we're loving the pale wood seen here.

Mesh Over-the-Door Shoe Bag

If you need something basic that can fit a lot of shoes, The Container Store's mesh over-the-door shoe organizer is a bit of an upgrade on the usual canvas pocket option.

Wooden Shoe Storage Stand

Go vertical and place stands anywhere in your home without taking up too much floor space. The two bottom shelves are meant for taller shoes, like booties or heels, and the rest are designed for flat shoes and sneakers.

Hidden Storage Bench

Unassuming and stylish, this compact bench doubles as shoe storage with four compartments for heels and flats. Just lightly pull the front side out, and the compartments open on a hinge.

3 Pair Boot Rack

Set this adjustable rack on the floor of your closet to help your tall boots keep their shape. No more crunching down the calves to fit them on the shelf with your other shoes. The wedge-shaped insert (and gravity) will help your leather and suede investment pieces stay pristine.

Temple Street All-In-One Organizer

Whether you're headed in or out, you can rely on Pottery Barn's multifunctional rack. The modular shelves make space for shoes, mail, accessories, keys, and a mirror—the latter is even included.

27-Pair Shoe Storage Cabinet

For the shoe lover who can't quit adding to their cart, this glamorous cabinet will make a cozy home for your favorite shoes. It even features dustproof storage and flip-out, pull-down drawers.

Lucy Shoe Rack

For those after a space to simply sit and put on your go-to pairs, Pottery Barn's bench is the perfect solution.

18-Pair Over Door Shoe Organizer

Go with a metal option for easier access to all of your shoes. Hang it inside your closet or on the back of a door to hide it from the world.

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